A Strangely Mounted Twistcore Yataghan

CharlesS · 17th September 2018, 05:34 PM

As many of you know, I love blades that show characteristics of cross-cultural construction and just when I think I have seen it all, inevitably I will find another that "takes the cake".

This yataghan is such an example.

The yat's blade is almost certainly Ottoman Turkish with a "Turkish ribbon" twistcore that is very clear and defined, and starts at a rather far point from the forte. It has a common T-type spine.

It is not the blade that is so unusual, but the way it is mounted. The scabbard looks to be a combination of Ottoman(steel wire stitching), Persian(steel baldric mounts), and western(chape) influence. Note, I and think rather oddly for this particular sword, the baldric would have suspended the sword edge up!

Then there is the hilt, which combines a Persian/European style guard with a clearly European style grip and pommel made from one piece of carved horn.

The parts here are so inconsistent one would be easily tempted to assume it was some recently cobbled together piece from someone who knew little or nothing about historically accurate swords, but look at all of it carefully and you can see it was all "born together" at some point, all parts clearly showing that that were made for each other and considerable and matching age. I'll call it a historical composite if you like!

I have no idea why these parts would have come together in this rather strange way and I welcome comments about this old oddity!

David R · 18th September 2018, 10:28 PM

Quite likely a hunting sword assembled in Europe in the 18th-19th c. Not that rare, though not that common either. Try using "Pandour" as a search term, also "Naval Yataghan".

ariel · 19th September 2018, 03:23 AM

Its handle reminds Indian Tulwar ones, and chape looks Afghani end of 19 century.
A chimera in any case.

kronckew · 19th September 2018, 11:02 AM

They do make nice hunting swords tho.

Mine is a bit lower class:

Kubur · 19th September 2018, 12:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kronckew

They do make nice hunting swords tho.

Mine is a bit lower class:

I think it's a chassepot bayonnet...

kronckew · 19th September 2018, 01:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kubur

I think it's a chassepot bayonnet...

I know, as bayonets (I have one of those as well) the yataghan style was popular in many European countries in the mid to late 19c, including England. Mine is a French 1866 blade repurposed as a hunting sword. Fits the 1866 French all steel scabbard perfectly. Has it's own wood & brass one now tho.

Kubur · 19th September 2018, 12:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ariel

Its handle reminds Indian Tulwar ones, and chape looks Afghani end of 19 century.
A chimera in any case.

I agree with Ariel, the chape is Afghani or at least Persian like the scabbard.
The quillons could be Ottoman, even the hilt... despite the European influences...
Then you have an Ottoman sword in a Persian scabbard...

CharlesS · 19th September 2018, 09:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kubur

Then you have an Ottoman sword in a Persian scabbard...

...yet the stitching style is very Ottoman, though the mounts may be Persian.

Tim Simmons · 19th September 2018, 09:06 PM

The grip is kind of Chinese looking.

17th September 2018, 05:34 PM	#1
CharlesS Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greenville, NC Posts: 1,857	A Strangely Mounted Twistcore Yataghan As many of you know, I love blades that show characteristics of cross-cultural construction and just when I think I have seen it all, inevitably I will find another that "takes the cake". This yataghan is such an example. The yat's blade is almost certainly Ottoman Turkish with a "Turkish ribbon" twistcore that is very clear and defined, and starts at a rather far point from the forte. It has a common T-type spine. It is not the blade that is so unusual, but the way it is mounted. The scabbard looks to be a combination of Ottoman(steel wire stitching), Persian(steel baldric mounts), and western(chape) influence. Note, I and think rather oddly for this particular sword, the baldric would have suspended the sword edge up! Then there is the hilt, which combines a Persian/European style guard with a clearly European style grip and pommel made from one piece of carved horn. The parts here are so inconsistent one would be easily tempted to assume it was some recently cobbled together piece from someone who knew little or nothing about historically accurate swords, but look at all of it carefully and you can see it was all "born together" at some point, all parts clearly showing that that were made for each other and considerable and matching age. I'll call it a historical composite if you like! I have no idea why these parts would have come together in this rather strange way and I welcome comments about this old oddity! Attached Images

19th September 2018, 11:02 AM	#4
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,182	They do make nice hunting swords tho. Mine is a bit lower class: Attached Images

18th September 2018, 10:28 PM	#2
David R Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 1,079	Quite likely a hunting sword assembled in Europe in the 18th-19th c. Not that rare, though not that common either. Try using "Pandour" as a search term, also "Naval Yataghan".

19th September 2018, 03:23 AM	#3
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	Its handle reminds Indian Tulwar ones, and chape looks Afghani end of 19 century. A chimera in any case.

19th September 2018, 09:06 PM	#9
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,806	The grip is kind of Chinese looking.